Method of elevating water by compressed air



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHIBALD THOMSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

METHOD OF ELEVATING WATER BY COMPRESSED AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,593, dated June 16, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD THOMSON, of Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Device for Raising ater; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improvement, (on), Fig. 3, showing the plane of section. Fig. 2, is also a longitudinal vertical section of ditto, (y), Fig. 3, showing the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of ditto, (z), (a), Fig. 1, indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in the several figures.

This invention has for its object the raising of water in a steady or continuous stream at any required height, in a simple and inexpensive manner.

This invention consists in having an air pump connected with a reservoir or tank which is immersed in the stream or well, the tank being provided with valves divided into two compartments and so arranged that by forcing air into one of the compartments of the tank, acontinuous stream will be forced upfrom the tank at a height commensurate with the power applied to the pump or to the pressure of the air within the tank.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand andconstruct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents the reservoir or tank which may be constructed of boiler iron, and of any suitable thickness. The reservoir or tank is formed of two parts, or it is divided by a partition plate (a), into the compartments (Z2), (0); the compartment (0), being considerably higher than the other compartment (Z9), as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The two compartments (5), (c), are connected by a tube or pipe (0Z), and at the lower end of said pipe (d), a valve (6), is placed; said valve opening upward. The lower parts of the compartments (6), (c), communicate with each other by a passage (f), and a valve (9), is placed at the end of the passage (f), within the compartment (6). The two valves (e), (g), are attached at opposite ends of a stem (71.) both valves,

B, is a pipe which communicates with the compartment (6). To the upper end of the pipe, an air pump is attached.

C, is an eduction pipe which leads from the lower part of the compartment (Z2), to the spot where the water is to be forced or conveyed.

Within the larger compartment (0), of the tank, two valves (Z), (m), are placed; the valve (Z), being at the lower end of a pipe (at), the upper end of which extends above the surface of the water. The valve (m), is placed over an opening at the bottom of the compartment valves (Z), (m), are attached to one stem (0), and this stem has one end of a lever 9), attached to it the opposite end of said lever being provided with a buoy The levers (i), (p), are not rigidly connected to their respective stems. Segment slots (9"), are made therein, through which bolts (8), pass, and allow said levers a certain play or movement before acting upon the stems.

The operation is as follows: The reservoir or tank A, is immersed in the stream or well from which the water is to be elevated. When air is forced down into the compartment (6), by operating the pump at the upper end of the pipe B, the water in (b), will be forced up through the pipe O, to the desired spot. As the level of the water descends, the buoy' (j), of course descends with it, and when it reaches a certain point the valves (6), will open and a communication is at once found between the two compartments (6), (c), at two different points,one communication being through the pipe (d), above the surface of the water in both compartments, and the other communication being through the passage (f),

' at the bottom of the tank and consequently the necessary supply is in (b), the water in (0), will have been reduced sufficiently to time the valves (6), (g), close. When the valves (Z), (m), open, the air in the upper part of (0), will escape through the pipe (11,), and the water will rush through the opening in the bottom (0), which compartment will in consequence be replenished; the buoy (9), closing the valves (Z), (m), when the requisite quantity of water is within said compartment. Thus it will be seen that the compartment (6), will be always supplied with water, and that by forcing air into the compartment (6), through pipe B, the water may be ejected upward through the pipe 0, at a height commensurate with the power applied to the pump connected with pipe B.

The invention is simple, and may be applied at a small cost; it being quite an economical device compared with the expensive force-pumps now in use.

'I- do not claim the raising of water by compressing or forcing air into a chamber or reservoir, irrespective of the means employed for attaining efficiently said result; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

The reservoir or tank A, formed or provided with two compartments (6), (0'), which are provided respectively with valves (6), (g), (Z), (m), operated as shown; the compartment 1)), being provided with the air-forcing pipe'B, and eduction pipeC; the two compartments, by the action of the valves, communicating intermittently by means of the pipe (d), and passage (f); 4Q

the whole being arranged substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

ARCHIBALD THOMSON. Witnesses:

ELISHA CHASE, V JAMEs WOOD. 

